Dearborn farmers market changes time and place to better serve customers

Photo courtesy of Metromode MediaThe Dearborn Farmers & Artisans Market kicked off its 11th season June 1 at its new time and place. The market is still open on Fridays through September, but the new hours are from 2 to 7 p.m. and the new location is West Village Commons south of Michigan Avenue in downtown West Dearborn.

By M.J. GALBRAITHMetromode Media

DEARBORN — Though in its 11th season, the Dearborn Farmers & Artisans Market isn’t afraid to make a few fundamental changes to better serve its community. And those changes, both to the market’s time and location, come from the community itself.

The Dearborn Farmers & Artisans Market kicked off the 2018 season at its new time and place on June 1. The market remains on Fridays throughout the summer, but rather than happening in the morning, the market now operates from 2 to 7 p.m.

Jean Smith, events manager for Downtown Dearborn, says that the new time means more customers. Previous years had the market beginning every Friday morning, taking place in the heart of the workday.

Another major change for the market is its location, moving out from behind Bryant Library to the more high-profile West Village Commons south of Michigan Avenue in downtown West Dearborn.

“There are a lot of events that happen at the Commons,” Smith says. “It only made sense to move the market there. There’s more foot traffic. The business owners there will benefit from the increased foot traffic from the market and vice versa.”

In addition to hosting more than 30 vendors each week, market days include food trucks and live entertainment. Special events include an ice cream social on Aug. 17 and monthly cooking demonstrations.

The market is also a member of the Power of Produce Club, a program that encourages young people to make healthy food choices for themselves.

Add it all up, and the market is more than a market, but an event unto itself.

“Come and sit a spell,” Smith says.

The Dearborn Farmers & Artisans Market is open from 2 to 7 p.m. every Friday through September at West Village Commons in downtown west Dearborn.

(This story was reprinted from Metromode Media. It also is available at: www.secondwavemedia.com/metromode/devnews/DearbornFarmersAndArtisansMarket2018.aspx.)